Electronic Payment Card and Key Holding Assembly

ABSTRACT

An electronic payment card and key holding assembly for carrying an electronic payment card in conjunction with keys includes an electronic payment card and a key ring that has a plurality of keys thereon. A holder is provided that slidably receives the electronic payment card for storing the electronic payment card. The holder has a hole therein and the key ring releasably engages the hole. Thus, the electronic payment card can be carried with the keys. In this way the holder inhibits the electronic payment card from being lost or stolen.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLYSPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention (2) Descriptionof Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to holding devices and moreparticularly pertains to a new holding device for carrying an electronicpayment card in conjunction with keys.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising an electronic payment card and a key ring that hasa plurality of keys thereon. A holder is provided that slidably receivesthe electronic payment card for storing the electronic payment card. Theholder has a hole therein and the key ring releasably engages the hole.Thus, the electronic payment card can be carried with the keys. In thisway the holder inhibits the electronic payment card from being lost orstolen.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of an electronic payment card andkey holding assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of holder of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a holder of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a phantom perspective view of an alternative embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a phantom perspective view of an alternative embodiment of thedisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through5 thereof, a new holding device embodying the principles and concepts ofan embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the electronic payment cardand key holding assembly 10 generally comprises an electronic paymentcard 12 that has an outer edge 14. The electronic payment card 12 may bean electronic payment card with an electronic chip, a debit card and anyother type of electronic payment card 12. A key ring 16 is included thathas a plurality of keys 18 thereon. The key ring 16 may be a key ring ofany conventional design, including carabiners, and the keys 18 may bekeys for a vehicle, locks of a building and any other type of keycommonly carried on a key ring 16.

A holder 20 is provided that slidably receives the electronic paymentcard 12 for storing the electronic payment card 12. The holder 20 has ahole 21 therein and the key ring 16 releasably engages the hole 21thereby facilitating the electronic payment card 12 to be carried withthe keys 18. In this way the holder 20 inhibits the electronic paymentcard 12 from being lost or stolen.

The holder 20 comprises a panel 22 that has a first surface 24, a secondsurface 26 and a perimeter edge 28 extending therebetween. The perimeteredge 28 has a back side 30, a first lateral side 32, a second lateralside 34 and a front side 36. The back side 30 has a slot 38 extendingtoward the front side 36 and the slot 38 has a plurality of intersectingsides 40 such that the slot 38 has a trapezoidal shape. Additionally,the panel 22 has a plurality of openings 42 each extending through thefirst 24 and second 26 surfaces. Each of the openings 42 is aligned witha respective one of the first lateral side 32, the second lateral side34 and the front side 36 of the perimeter edge 28 of the panel 22. Eachof the openings 42 is shaped and strategically positioned on the panel22 such that the openings 42 define an X shape.

The hole 21 extends through the first 24 and second 26 surfaces. Thefront side 36 tapering to a blunt point 46 and the hole 21 is alignedwith the blunt point 46 on the front side 36. The first surface 24 ofthe panel 22 has advertising indicia 48 printed thereon. The advertisingindicia 48 comprise images or text corresponding to a corporation orother company.

A pair of tracks 50 is each coupled to the second surface 26 of thepanel 22 and each of the tracks 50 comprises a leg 52 and a foot 54. Theleg 52 of each of the tracks 50 extends away from the second surface 26having the foot 54 of each of the tracks 50 is spaced from the secondsurface 26. The leg 52 of each of the tracks 50 is coextensive with arespective one of the first 32 and second 34 lateral sides of theperimeter edge 28 of the panel 22 and extends inwardly along the backside 30 of the perimeter edge 28 of the panel 22. The outer edge 14 ofthe electronic payment card 12 is slid between the foot 54 of each ofthe tracks 50 and the second surface 26 when the electronic payment card12 is positioned in the holder 20.

In an alternative embodiment 56 as shown in FIG. 4, the outer edge 14 ofthe electronic payment card 12 has a first lateral side 58 and a topside 60; the first lateral side 58 of the outer edge 14 has a lengththat is less that a length of the top side 60. The holder 20 comprises ashell 62 that has a bottom end 64 and the bottom end 64 is open forinsertably receiving the first lateral side 58 of the outer edge 14 ofthe electronic payment card 12. Thus, an electronic chip 65 on theelectronic payment card 12 is exposed. The key ring 16 extends througheach of the shell 62 and the electronic payment card 12 to retain theelectronic payment card 12 in the shell 62. Additionally, the shell 62has a width corresponding to a height of the electronic payment card 12.

In an alternative embodiment 66 as shown in FIG. 5, the bottom end 64 ofthe shell 62 insertably receives the top side 60 of the outer edge 14 ofthe electronic payment card 12 such that a magnetic stripe 68 on theelectronic payment card 12 is exposed. Thus, the electronic payment card12 can be swiped while the electronic payment card 12 is positioned inthe shell. The key ring 16 extends through each of the shell 62 and theelectronic payment card 12 to retain the electronic payment card 12 inthe shell 62. Additionally, the shell 62 has a width corresponding to awidth of the electronic payment card 12.

In use, one or more of the electronic payment cards 12 are slid into theholder 20 for storing the electronic payment cards 12. In this way theone or more electronic payment cards 12 can be carried along with thekey ring 16. The one or more electronic payment cards 12 are not onlyneatly organized in the holder 20, but the one or more electronicpayment cards 12 are additionally carried with the key ring 16 in onesingle unit. A selected one of the one or more electronic payment cards12 is removable from the holder 20 at any time. In the alternativeembodiment 56 as shown in FIG. 4, the electronic chip 65 on theelectronic payment card 12 is exposed for insertion into a paymentdevice when the electronic payment card 12 is positioned in the shell62. In the alternative embodiment 66 as shown in FIG. 5, the magneticstrip 68 on the electronic payment card 12 is exposed for swipingthrough the payment device when the electronic payment card 12 ispositioned in the shell 62.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. Areference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

1. An electronic payment card and key holding assembly for containing aplurality of electronic payment cards and keys, said assemblycomprising: an electronic payment card having an outer edge; a key ringhaving a plurality of keys thereon; and a holder slidably receiving saidelectronic payment card for storing said electronic payment card, saidholder having a hole therein, said key ring releasably engaging saidhole thereby facilitating said electronic payment card to be carriedwith said keys wherein said holder is configured to inhibit saidelectronic payment card from being lost or stolen.
 2. The assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein: said holder comprises a panel having afirst surface, a second surface and a perimeter edge extendingtherebetween, said perimeter edge having a back side, a first lateralside, a second lateral side and a front side, said back side having aslot extending toward said front side, said slot having a plurality ofintersecting sides such that said slot has a trapezoidal shape; and saidpanel has a plurality of openings each extending through said first andsecond surfaces, each of said openings being aligned with a respectiveone of said first lateral side, said second lateral side and said frontside of said perimeter edge of said panel.
 3. The assembly according toclaim 2, wherein: said front side tapers to a blunt point; said panelhole extending through said first and second surfaces, said hole beingaligned with said blunt point on said front side; and said first surfacehas advertising indicia being printed thereon, said advertising indiciacomprising images or text corresponding to a corporation or othercompany.
 3. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a pairof tracks, each of said tracks being coupled to said second surface ofsaid panel, each of said tracks comprising a leg and a foot, said leg ofeach of said tracks extending away from said second surface having saidfoot of each of said tracks being spaced from said second surface. 4.The assembly according to claim 3, wherein said leg of each of saidtracks is coextensive with a respective one of said first and secondlateral sides of said perimeter edge of said panel and extends inwardlyalong said back side of said perimeter edge of said panel, said outeredge of said electronic payment card being slid between said foot ofeach of said tracks and said second surface when said electronic paymentcard is positioned in said holder.
 5. The assembly according to claim 1,wherein: said outer edge of said electronic payment card has a firstlateral side; and a top side, said first lateral side having a lengthbeing less that a length of said top side; and said holder comprises ashell having a bottom end, said bottom end being open for insertablyreceiving said first lateral side of said outer edge of said electronicpayment card, said key ring extending through each of said shell andsaid electronic payment card to retain said electronic payment card insaid shell.
 6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said outeredge of said electronic payment card has a first lateral side; and a topside, said first lateral side having a length being less that a lengthof said top side; and said holder comprises a shell having a bottom end,said bottom end being open for insertably receiving said top side ofsaid outer edge of said electronic payment card such that a magneticstrip on said electronic payment card is exposed, said key ringextending through each of said shell and said electronic payment card toretain said electronic payment card in said shell.
 7. An electronicpayment card and key holding assembly for containing a plurality ofelectronic payment cards and keys, said assembly comprising: anelectronic payment card having an outer edge; a key ring having aplurality of keys thereon; and a holder slidably receiving saidelectronic payment card for storing said electronic payment card, saidholder having a hole therein, said key ring releasably engaging saidhole thereby facilitating said electronic payment card to be carriedwith said keys wherein said holder is configured to inhibit saidelectronic payment card from being lost or stolen, said holdercomprising: a panel having a first surface, a second surface and aperimeter edge extending therebetween, said perimeter edge having a backside, a first lateral side, a second lateral side and a front side, saidback side having a slot extending toward said front side, said slothaving a plurality of intersecting sides such that said slot has atrapezoidal shape, said panel having a plurality of openings eachextending through said first and second surfaces, each of said openingsbeing aligned with a respective one of said first lateral side, saidsecond lateral side and said front side of said perimeter edge of saidpanel, said front side tapering to a blunt point, said hole extendingthrough said first and second surfaces, said hole being aligned withsaid blunt point on said front side, said first surface havingadvertising indicia being printed thereon, said advertising indiciacomprising images or text corresponding to a corporation or othercompany; and a pair of tracks, each of said tracks being coupled to saidsecond surface of said panel, each of said tracks comprising a leg and afoot, said leg of each of said tracks extending away from said secondsurface having said foot of each of said tracks being spaced from saidsecond surface, said leg of each of said tracks being coextensive with arespective one of said first and second lateral sides of said perimeteredge of said panel and extending inwardly along said back side of saidperimeter edge of said panel, said outer edge of said electronic paymentcard being slid between said foot of each of said tracks and said secondsurface when said electronic payment card is positioned in said holder.8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein: said outer edge of saidelectronic payment card has a first lateral side; and a top side, saidfirst lateral side having a length being less that a length of said topside; and said holder comprises a shell having a bottom end, said bottomend being open for insertably receiving said first lateral side of saidouter edge of said electronic payment card, said key ring extendingthrough each of said shell and said electronic payment card to retainsaid electronic payment card in said shell.
 9. The assembly according toclaim 7, wherein: said outer edge of said electronic payment card has afirst lateral side; and a top side, said first lateral side having alength being less that a length of said top side; and said holdercomprises a shell having a bottom end, said bottom end being open forinsertably receiving said top side of said outer edge of said electronicpayment card such that a magnetic strip on said electronic payment cardis exposed, said key ring extending through each of said shell and saidelectronic payment card to retain said electronic payment card in saidshell.